Sweden has officially requested China’s assistance in investigating damage to two critical undersea cables in the Baltic Sea after a Chinese ship was linked to the incidents. The cables, one connecting Sweden to Lithuania and another between Finland and Germany, were damaged on November 17 and 18 in Swedish territorial waters.
The Chinese vessel, Yi Peng Three, was reportedly in the vicinity during the time of the damage and has since anchored in international waters near Denmark. The ship had departed the Russian port of Ust-Luga, west of St. Petersburg, on November 15. Early on November 17, the Arelion cable between Gotland, Sweden, and Lithuania was damaged. The following day, the C-Lion 1 cable, linking Helsinki, Finland, to Rostock, Germany, was severed.
Data from ship tracking websites suggests the Yi Peng Three sailed over the cables around the time they were cut. Investigators suspect the ship deliberately damaged the cables by dragging its anchor along the seabed for over 160 kilometers (100 miles), as reported by 'The Wall Street Journal'.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth during a press conference on Thursday. “We think it’s extremely important to find out exactly what happened and, of course, we expect China to comply with the request we have sent,” he said. Kristersson also reiterated Sweden’s request for the Yi Peng Three to return to Swedish waters for inspection, clarifying that the government was not making any direct accusations.
China’s foreign ministry responded on Friday, stating its willingness to collaborate. “Currently, China and Sweden maintain close communication regarding this,” said spokesperson Mao Ning, adding that Beijing is ready to work with relevant countries to uncover the truth.
The incident comes amid increased tension in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The region has witnessed multiple cases of damage to undersea infrastructure, including the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in September 2022 and an undersea telecom cable between Estonia and Sweden in October 2023.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius remarked last week that "nobody believes that these cables were cut accidentally," though he refrained from specifying who might be responsible. Russia has dismissed claims of its involvement as "absurd" and "laughable."
The Yi Peng Three remains in the Kattegat Strait, a vital passage between Sweden and Denmark linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. The Danish navy continues to monitor the vessel closely.
As investigations unfold, international cooperation will be crucial to address the incident and safeguard critical infrastructure in the Baltic region.